How to Make Your Favorite DC Superheroes in D&D
Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and more - which DC superhero would YOU want to play in Dungeons & Dragons?
Dungeons & Dragons is known for its high-fantasy setting, with elements like elves, mages, dwarves, and clerics. This setting can be a ton of fun to play in (we often do!), but with the power of third-party content or good old-fashioned reskinning (see our recent blog post on reskinning monsters), you can play D&D in other settings: cyberpunk action, space exploration, or superhero adventures. If you’d like to play a superhero-style character in D&D, there are plenty of options in the core game resembling the powers and abilities of iconic superhero characters like Batman or Wonder Woman. Whether you’re going for a full-on superhero tale or you just want a little inspiration from your favorite heroes, here are our recommendations to get you started:
Play D&D as Aquaman
Aquaman (as he appears in Justice League) - he can be played in D&D using the druid class!
Playing as a druid can allow you to speak with both plants and animals, just like the famous Atlantean. Going with the Circle of the Land subclass and selecting the coast as your land of choice will give you Aqauman’s capability to breathe underwater. If you’re looking to emulate his iconic weapon, you can pick up a standard trident. Better yet, ask your Dungeon Master to incorporate magical tridents like the Tidecaller Trident or the Trident of Fish Command! (Druids aren’t naturally proficient in melee weapons, however, so if you want to go this route, either take the Weapon Master Feat at Level 4 or multiclass into Barbarian, Fighter, Paladin, or Ranger)
Make Batman a D&D Character
Batman (as he appears in Batman: The Animated Series) - he can be played in D&D using the rogue class!
Playing as a rogue will grant you the Caped Crusader’s stealth abilities and mastery of ranged weapons like daggers, darts, and crossbows (which can easily be reskinned as classic items like the Batarang). Much like the polymath Batman, Rogues gain Expertise in particular skills (doubling their proficiency bonus!); we recommend you choose acrobatics, athletics or intimidation. Selecting the Inquisitive archetype will also grant you his detective skills, sense for danger, and uncanny ability to analyze and counter his enemies’ weaknesses.
Play as The Flash
The Flash (as he appears in Justice League) - he can be played in D&D using the monk class!
Playing as a monk is the best way to gain the Flash’s iconic ability - which is, of course, speed. As a monk, you start fast and get faster each time you level up; eventually, you can even run up walls or across water just like the high-speed hero! Like the Flash, monks can hold their own in a fight with no weapons of any kind, instead attacking with high speed and precision to take down tough enemies. Choosing the Way of the Open Hand tradition will confer the quick healing and superhuman attacks of the speedster with the abilities Wholeness of Body and Quivering Palm.
Green Arrow as a D&D Character
Green Arrow (as he appears in Justice League: Unlimited) - he can be played in D&D using the ranger class!
Playing as a ranger, as you might imagine, grants the ranged-weapons proficiencies of the Green Arrow: you’ll be able to sling arrows and bolts from a longbow, crossbow, blowgun, or whatever else your Dungeon Master has up their sleeve. The ranger also also gives you the ability to wield a greatsword, longsword, or rapier, reflecting Green Arrow's aptitude as a swordsman. With the Archery fighting style and the Hunter archetype, your skills with a bow will only improve, and you’ll gain the ability to attack multiple people at once! If you want to emulate Oliver’s specialty arrows, we recommend picking up the spells Cordon of Arrows, Flame Arrows, and Lightning Arrow.
Play as Green Lantern
Green Lantern (as he appears in Justice League) - he can be played in D&D using the sorcerer class
Playing as a sorcerer gives you an intuitive emotional connection to a great source of magic power, much like the connection the Green Lantern Corps have with their mighty rings. Sorcerers, like Green Lantern, are able to fly, manipulate objects, and summon magical projectiles, weapons, and even dragons in much the same way a Lantern Ring can summon hard-light constructions. Selecting the Lunar Sorcery origin and the Full Moon phase, gives you access to Moon Fire, which is similar to Green Lantern’s energy-projection blast; it’ll also let you be able to radiate a bright light that can blind enemies and heal friends.
Make Hawkgirl a D&D Character
Hawkgirl (as she appears in Justice League) - she can be played in D&D using the fighter class
Playing as a fighter is the best way to successfully wield not only Hawkgirl’s iconic mace and spear, but her litany of other melee weapons, like warhammers and axes. To emulate her Nth-metal mace’s lightning powers and anti-magic field, ask your Dungeon Master for the Mace of Disruption and take the Mage Slayer feat at level 4. Choosing the Purple Dragon Knight archetype, will mean you have same relationship with the Kingdom of Cormyr as Hawkgirl does with the Thanagarian Empire: a powerful and brave warrior protecting the crown. Much like Hawkgirl, Purple Dragon Knights inspire their friends, wield natural powers of persuasion and intimidation, and can suffuse allies with indomitable power. If you’d like to fly on her Thanagarian wings, we suggest playing with the Aaracokra race.
Play D&D as Oracle
Oracle (as she appears in Justice League International) - she can be played in D&D using the artificer class!
Playing as an artificer will let you craft incredible creators, just like the brilliant inventor, Oracle. Artificers rely on their high intelligence to create unique items like arcane propulsion armor, enhanced weapons, and a helm of awareness (this helm works much like the infrared scanner Barbara once put in her Batgirl cowl. Artificers can easily replicate other inventions, too, like a telepathy device, missile-snaring gloves, communication devices, magic detectors, a levitation device, and even a Bat Cloak. Picking up a quarterstaff and selecting the Artillerist specialty will let you emulate Oracle’s exceptional abilities with eskrima fighting sticks and firearms. If you’d like a viable way to use a wheelchair, ask your Dungeon Master to incorporate Mark Thompson’s custom Combat Wheelchair.
Shazam / Captain Marvel in D&D
Shazam (as he appears in Justice League Unlimited) - he can be played in D&D using the barbarian class!
Playing as a barbarian lets you shift into a powerful battle-ready state known as Rage - much like the way Billy Batson speaks the word “Shazam” to transform into his superhero state. The Rage state grants the remarkable strength and resistance to damage that Billy has once transformed into Shazam. As they level up, Barbarians gain tons of new abilities, including the super reflexes and greater constitution of Earth’s Mightiest Mortal. Going with the Path of the Storm Herald and selecting the Sea Aura will give you Shazam’s ability to shoot lightning while transformed!
Superman as a Character
Superman (as he appears in Superman: The Animated Series) - he can be played in D&D using the cleric class
Playing as a cleric lets you channel divine power, similar to Superman channeling the power of the sun. Clerics have a strong constitution and are built to support a party of heroes, much like Superman with the Justice League. If you’d like to incorporate the Man of Steel’s x-ray vision and super senses, either ask your Dungeon Master for the Ring of X-Ray Vision or make good use of cleric spells that let you locate the presence of magic, specific creatures, and objects. Selecting the Arcana Domain, lets you learn certain wizard spells, which grant Superman’s abilities of heat vision, wind breath, freeze breath, and, of course, flight. (It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s an arcana cleric!)
Wonder Woman in D&D
Wonder Woman (as she appears in Justice League) - she can be played in D&D using the paladin class
Playing as a paladin can make you an incredible warrior as well as a talented and empathetic diplomat, much like Wonder Woman. Both the demi-goddess and a paladin can heal wounds, enhance weapons with the power of lightning, and wield them with both acrobatics and strategy. Paladin spells can also mimic the effects of Wonder Woman’s gadgets, including the protection and concussive blasts from her gauntlets, the truth-serum-like effect of the Lasso of Truth, and even the ability to summon a flying mount, like Diana’s iconic invisible plane. As they level up, paladins gain some of the subtler abilities of the legendary Amazon warrior: protecting allies from harm and inspiring them with supernatural courage. Selecting the Oath of the Ancients will give you Wonder Woman’s ability to communicate with animals, superhuman durability, and, under the right circumstances, even immortality!
Play Your Own Character!
Dungeons & Dragons classes come with so many different and amazing abilities - it’s no wonder that some of them imitate superpowers. You can try to create your own version of your favorite DC hero, make another of your favorite characters, or even use this knowledge as inspiration to make something entirely your own! If you’ve got a great character idea or want to play with a specific power set, why not check out our games for tweens and teens? Whether it’s a Trident of Fish Command, a Combat Wheelchair, or something entirely your own, we’ll help you create the exact character you want and give you the opportunity to go on quests, save the world, and make up your own hero story!
